Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3252, Benjamin Edson, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER"> NUMBER
Wages
Edson, Benjamin Sarah
P. 3252
CONTENTS
[Faint, illegible handwriting on the left side of the CONTENTS section]
[Faint, illegible handwriting on the right side of the CONTENTS section]

North Wilksboro March 4 th 1852 to the Secretary of the Pension office Washington
Dear Sir I forward you the declaration of Mrs Sarah Edson widow of late Benjamin Edson She knew not how to fill up the declaration as to the family record the one enclosed is one that Mrs Sarah Edson has kept a long time there is recorded on that 2 Grand Children She cannot recollect whose hand writing the family record is made out in her eye sight is so dim that she cannot read any writing whatever but it is a record she has kept over 30 years with her papers Yours respectfully J. C. Buel

Benjamin Edson was born October 11 th 1759
Sarah Edson was born June 18 th 1761
Alpha Edson was born April 11 th 1785
Sally Edson was born April 17 th 1787
Silva Edson was born May 21 st 1789
Benjamin Edson was born Oct 2 15 th 1791
Asa Edson was born April 30 th
Polly Edson was born Sept 7 th 1796
Henrich Edson was born May 29 th 1799
Cyrus Edson was born March 20 th 1801
Abiah Edson was born June 24 th 1807
Joseph Edson was born June 20 th 1809 } Grand children
Asa Edson - Died January 9 th - 1825
Benjamin Edson Died August 4 th 1820

I Abial Edson of Randolph in Orange County State of Vermont aged Eighty two years depose & say that I resided in Pelham Mass. from the time I was ten years of age until I was twenty.
I had a Brother whose name was Benjamin and who was about nine years my senior. He married one Sarah Goodspeed then residing in the same town about the year 1784 according to my best recollection. I was not present at his marriage, but he resided Pelham with his wife & raised children and moved to Stafford Conn. and so did my Father, & resided near my Father with whom I lived until I was twenty-three years of age.
I have since known them as husband & wife both have visited me at my residence in this town - My Brother died several years since and his widow Sarah Edson now is living to the best of my belief in North Wilbraham Mass -
Abial Edson
State of Vermont } At Randolph in said County this 12th Orange County } day of July 1857. Abial Edson to me well known as a person of truth & veracity subscribed the foregoing & made oath to the same before me J. H. Parris Notary Public

To my Aunt Sarah Edson or any of her children
Dear Relative
We have lately received a few lines from one who calls himself a friend and neighbor of my Aunt Sarah and we were glad to know that she was yet living but not one word did we hear from her family. The letter was directed to my father and Uncle Simson. You had not probably heard of the death of Uncle Simson he died Oct 14 1847 with a cancer. It commenced in the inside of his under lip and eat through until his lip was nearly gone. He lived about 4 years after it commenced and labored some until the last summer that he lived, he was not confined to his room but seventeen days.
His wife is still living on the same place with her youngest son Elazar who is married and has two children. The two oldest sons live in the north part of this State the 3 d son in Maine, the 4 th in Illinois. There are three of the Daughters living in this town. Mrs Abigail Eastman, Mrs Susan Green who is now a widow, and Mrs Dianette Pratt. Betsy The third Daughter married Mr Daniel Weston and they have gone to Wisconsin. I will now give you a short account of my Father's family. My Father and Mother are still living. Father is very feeble this summer is not able to do anything seems to have a good appetite yet he is weak and cannot walk about but little I am very much afraid unless he gets something to recruit his strength he will not live through another winter. My Mother is rather infirm but she is busy about some kind of work all the time. My Sister Sophronia
has never married but lives at home and takes care of Father and Mother when they are sick My Brother and his wife live there and they are in comfortable circumstances not rich but every thing they need and owe nothing. My Brother married eleven years ago last March. He has but one child who is now in his ninth year his name is Lucian Abiel

I live about three miles from Gathers in the center of the Farm. I have but 2 children living we have buried 1 My oldest is a daughter. She was sixteen years old last Jan, she is now from home teaching, her name is Sarah. We have one Son who is still fourteen he is a large healthy boy and helps his father carry on the farm his name is Franklin. By the request of my aged Parents I have been thus particular in writing hoping thereby to induce someone to write us We have not heard one word from any of our relations in that part since Mrs Ballard was here several years ago. Where are they all is there none of them living?
Dear Aunt where are your Children? will you ask them to write us and that immediately and inform us all about our relatives.
You have Grandchildren that can write us? if they live near you will you ask them to do it do I beseech of one and all to let us hear from you. I would just say that the letter that was sent lay in the Office several weeks before we got it, if it had been directed to East Randolph we should have got it sooner.
Now I will ask you once more to write immediately and let us know whether Aunt Inest and her children are living there are such facilities for travelling you can come and see us in one day why not come? I must now draw to a close hoping that we shall no longer be entire strangers but write to each other occasionally. This from your affectionate niece Olive Edson Washburn.
Mrs Sarah Edson.

I hereby certify that I was well acquainted with H. William Edson and his wife Sarah Edson from 1821 to the time of his death that they and I was their family Physician and was at their house frequently, and no doubt was entertained by any one I presume of their being Maried as stated by her and others - They sustained a respectable standing in society as do also their chil- dren. J. W. Rice justice of the peace Wilbraham Sep 2 d 1851

I Erena Frost of Ludlow in the County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age 75 years on oath depose and say that I am the widow of the late Noah Frost and sister to the late Benjamin Pedson who was the husband of the widow Sarah Pedson. They were married when I was about 7 or 8 years old and lived together as husband and wife until my brother died which was August 4 th 1830
Mark Erena X Frost her
Ludlow May 26 th 1857 Then personally appeared the above named Erena Frost and was taken oath to the truth of the above deposition by her subscribed
Before me - Issac W. Dyer justice of the peace

I Erena Frost of Ludlow in the County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age 75 years on oath depose and say that I am the widow of the late Noah Frost and sister to the late Benjamin Pedson who was the husband of the widow Sarah Pedson. they were married when I was about 7 or 8 years old and lived together as husband and wife until my brother died which was August 4 th 1830
Mark Erena X Frost her
Ludlow May 26 th 1857 Then personally appeared the above named Erena Frost and was Sub. a ss to the foregoing certificate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
HAMPDEN ss.
I, RICHARD BLISS, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the County of Hampden, do certify, that Jeremiah Rice Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit are and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Rice and believe his signature to said certificate is genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said Commonwealth, this Septentia day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fiftyone
Richd Bliss Clerk.

North Wilbraham July 17 1852
To the Secretary of the Interior of the Pension Office
Dear Sir I recd a line from the Commissioner at Washington informing that Mrs Sarah Edson could not receive a Pension on account of the Service of Benjamin Edson unless she could give proof in a Declaration that he had served 6 months the Certificate from the Secretary of the Commonwealth shows his having been out at two different times when standing as a minuteman so called and after served 3 months Mrs Edson would lay in a Declaration that He Benjamin Edson stood a minuteman the first year of war of the Revolution and went out at two different times in that first year and the next year enlisted and went out three months - if such a declaration would be satisfactory with the evidence already given please send a Blank form of declaration and oblige
Respectfully yours
J. H. Buel

Copy of Family record
Benjamin Edson born at Bridgewater Mass Oct 13 th 1759
Sarah Edson born at Easton Mass June 28 th 1761
Alpha Edson born at Pelham Mass April 11 th 1785
Sally Edson born at Stafford Conn April 17 th 1787
Silva Edson born at Ellington Conn May 20 th 1789
Benjamin Edson born at Ellington Conn October 13 th 1791
Asa Edson born at Ellington Conn April 24 th 1794
Polly Edson born at Springfield Mass September 1 st 1796
Merrick Edson born at Springfield Mass May 29 th 1799
Cyrus Edson born at Wilbraham Mass March 20 1804
Benjamin Edson died at Wilbraham August 4 th 1830 Aged 71 Years

14.458.
Sarah Edson, wid of Benjamin Mays.
Act 7 July '38
Set J. B. Buel Nov 26/57.
Same - June 28. 5-2.
" Sept 13/5-2,
Same Feby 5 1856-
3252
act. 7 th July 1838

P. O.
Sarah Olson
Service:
wid. of Benj.
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

14.457 Yara Eaden, mi y Benjamin
Map of
Act 7 July 1938
J. C. Bud

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston :
May 20 1851.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Benjamin Etsen is found on a muster roll of Capt. Josiah Packard's Co. Col. MITCHELL'S Reg't in alarm List. D. 1776. as private. 16 days. — On a pay roll of Capt. James Allison's Co. Mass. Cont. as a private of Bridgewater from Apr. 19. 1777. 23 days. On a pay roll of Capt. John Church's Co. Col. MUNN's Reg't as a private of Bethel from July 16. 1780. 3 hrs. 9 days. 2 years pay. 3d. Wis. light. — There appears to be no evidence of any other service by any person of the name. —

I am now 75 years old, and my memory does not enable me to state the services more fully than above stated.
And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I am now Nintyone years old, and my memory does not enable me to state the services more fully than above stated.
WITNESS my hand, this Seventh day of March A. D. 18 57 .
day of March Sarah L. Elson her
Signed by said Sarah Elson in my presence.
Isaac N. Pierce
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
1034

To the secretary of Pension Office Washington D.C.
Dear Sir
I have made an effort to procure satisfactory evidence that would warrant Mrs Edson her Pension. I would say that the Testimonials are from honest and worthy persons. There is no fraud in these applications. we send a copy of the Family record the original we cannot obtain. James W Crooks Esq of Springfield Mass got possession of it some months since for the purpose of obtaining the pension now he will not give it up. But Mrs Edsons took a copy of it we send the copy with the other Testimonials.
I hope you will consider Mrs Edsons Claim as one of the last of the revolutionary Pensioners.
If it meets your approbation to grant her a pension I shall rejoice with the old Lady Wilbraham Hampden co } Mass Mass Sep 15 1837 } Yours Respectfully J. C. Buel